Boltless rail-joint clamp.



R. A. COE & T. J. HARBOUR.

BOLTLESS RAIL JOINT CLAMP.

APPLICATHJN FILED MAYIB. 1916.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

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H. A. COE'& 1.1. HARBOUR.

BoLTLEss RAIL 101m CLAMP. APPLICATION FILED MAY 18a 1916.

Patented Mar 13, 1917.

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Hamas fa ROBERT A. COE .AND THOMAS J. HARBOUR, OF TUPELO, OKLAHOMA.

BOLTLESS RAIL-JOIT CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatentedliar. 13, 1917.

Application filed May 18, 1916. Serial No. 98,417.

To all whom z'ztmay concern.'

Be it known that we, ROBERT A.. Con and THOMAS J. HARBOUR, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Tupelo, in the county of Coal and Stateof Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improve-y nients in Boltless Rail-Joint Clamps, of

Another object of this invention is the production of a boltless rail joint clamp which has a plurality ofclamping viish plates upon which means normally operates for retaining these fish plates in a binding engagement with the abutting ends of two rails, while means is also provided for further urging the sh plates into a binding engagement with the'abuttingends ofthe rails as the train passes thereover.

Another object of this invention is the production of a boltless rail joint clamp wherein tie plates are provided with channel portions in which the rounded bodies of the clamping fish plates are adapted to slightly rotate vwhen stress is brought to bear thereon, which action will, of course, cause the sh plates to more iirmly bind in engagement with the'abutting ends` of two rails and thus hold the rails in alinement so as to permit a train to easilypass thereover without jarring or riding unevenly. l

With these and other objects in view this invention consists of certain novel combinations, constructions, and arrangements of parts as willbe hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of the boltless rail oint clamp in operation, showing a portion of one of the rails slightly'broken away and in section.

Fig.. 2 is a side'elevation of the boltless rail joint clamp in use. l

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the device, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4: is a vertical section taken on the,

line 4-4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the clamping fish plates. Figz isa detail perspectiv'e view of one of the tie plates.

i Referring to the accompanying drawings bynumerals it willV be seen that each tie plate comprises a base 1 from which extend the overhanging flanges 2,' which flanges 2 have their inner side edges 8 spaced from of one each other, asshown in Fig; 6. An integral rib 4t is formed upon the base 2 and extends from the central` portion thereof,- extending longitudinally to the tie plate and has its top flat, as shown at 5@ Upon each side of the rib 4L and under the {ianges Q there are formed the longitudinally extending rounded channels 6 for purposes to be hereinafter set forth. These flanges 2 may, ofcourse, be reinforced by the webs 7 formed thereon,

while the base 1 is provided with notches 8 for the reception of spikes 9 for fixedly retaining the tie plate in position upon a tie.

' Each clamping lish plate 10 is elongated, as lshown in Figs. 2 and 5 and has a body 11 formedy integral upon its lower portion and extending longitudinally thereof. This body 11 is provided 4with a rounded outer surfacelQconforming in contour to the shape of'a channel'tof the tie plate. A longitudinally extending groove 13 is formed in each body 11 of the clamping fish plate and extends longitudinally thereofat a distance 'fromthe lowersurface of the body. The plate 'is also provided with integral spaced 'lugs 14 so that when the clamping fish plates are in use the lugs 14C may fit within the o-penings 15 formed in the web 16 of the rail. It will further be noted that a central block 17 is formed integral upon the lower portions of the body 11 of the clamping fish plate 10 and this block has a socket 18 formed therein.

When this boltless rail joint clamp is in operation it is 'intended that the two tie plates be employed upon two ties at a distance from each other. The'clamping {ish plates should be positioned upon the tie plates so as to receive the abutting ends of two rails. It will be seen that the upper portions of the'clamping sh plates 10 will engage the lower portions of the tread 19 of the rail, while the base of they rail 20 may fit within the longitudinally extending grooves 13 of the body 11 of the clamping fish plates 10. lIt will be seen that the clamping fish plates 10 will be'carried adjacent the web 16 of each rail, so that the lugs 14 will extend through the openings 15 formed in the web 16 of the rail. It should be noted by referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 5 that the lugs 14 are arranged upon the inner portions of the clamping fish plates 10 so that the lugs of each plate will engage two abutting ends of the rails. In this way it will be seen that the rails will be positively held in alinement with each other and will be prevented from slipping since they will be connected together by both of the claming fish plates 10. The coil spring 21 has its ends resting within the sockets 18 of the blocks 17 formed upon the lower portions of the bodies 11 of the clamping fish plates 10 and in this manner it will'be seen that the clamping fish plates will be normally urged toward each other for binding upon the side portions of the webs 16 of the rails.

By referring particularly to Figs. 3L and 4 it will be noted that the grooves 13 formed in the bodies 11 are formed so as to be slightly above the fiat top 5 of the rib 4.V

As a consequence when a train rides upon the tread 19 of the rail the stress ofV the weight imparted upon the rail will cause the base 2O to bear very heavily upon the body 11 adjacent the grooves 13, thereby causing the bodies to slightly rotate within the channels 6 of the tie plates and in this manner very firmly bind the clamping fish plates 10 upon the webs 16 of the abutting ends of the rails. In this manner it will be seen that the two ends of the rails will be held in correct alinement with each other very firmly and without danger of spreading or moving from their correct positions so that as a train passes thereover, jarring or uneven riding which ordinarily occurs is prevented. It will be noted that the spring 21 will urge the blocks 17 away from each other and thus cause the clamping fish plates 10 to bear upon the side portions of the webs 16 of the abutting ends of the rails.. Of course, when the additional weight of a train passing over the abutting ends of the rails is imparted to the bodies 11 of the clamping fish plates 10 it will be seen thatthe clamping fish plates will be further urged into a more positive binding engagement with the 4webs of the abutting ends of the rails. It will be seen, however, that because of the fact that the coil spring 21 is employed it will'be impossible for the clamping fish plates to move from enga-gement with the webs of the rails and as a consequence since the clamping fish plates are held at all times in engagement with the webs it will be seen that although additional weight is imparted to the bodies ofthe clamping fish plates for more positively urging the clamping fish ing so that when the weight of a train pass-Y ing thereover bears downwardly upon the bodies so as to cause the same to slightly rotate or revolve within the channels of the tie plates, the bearing of the clamping fish plates upon the webs of the rails will cause the two abutting ends of the rails to be positively held in alinement with each other, thus allowing the train to pass evenly thereover without jarring or uneven riding.

What is claimed is z- 1. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a plurality of tie plates,- clamping fish plates rotatably mounted upon said tie plates, said fish plates being adapted to receive the abutting ends of two rails, means for normally urging said fish plates into a binding engagement with the webs of the rails, and means for swinging said fish plates upon said tie plates into an increased binding engagement with the webs of the rails as a train passes over the rails.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of tie plates having longitudinal channels formed therein, clamping fish plates positioned upon said tie plates, bodies formed integral upon said clamping fish plates, said bodies resting within said channels so as to rotatably support said fish plates, said fish plates being adapted to receive the abutting ends of two rails, means for normally retaining said fish plates in a binding engagement with the webs of the rails, and means for causing said fish plates to be swung into a more positive binding engagement with the webs of the rails as a train passes over the rails.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of tie plates, fish' plates positioned upon said tie plates, said fish plates having bodies formed upon the lower portions thereof, said tie plates having longitudinal channels formed therein, said bodies being rotatably mounted within said channels, said fish plates being adapted to receive the-abutting ends of two rails, a spring interposed between said bodies so as to urge the same, away from each other and thus hold said fish plates in Va binding engagement with the webs ofl two rails, and means for further urging said sh plates so as to more positively bind upon the ends of the rails as a train passes thereover.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tie plate comprising a base, overhanging flanges formed upon said base, longitudinally wextending rounded channels formed in said base and flanges, a central rib formed upon said base between said channels, a plurality of ish plates mounted upon said tie plate, bodies formed upon said fish plates, said bodies having rounded outer surfaces so as to fit snugly within said channels so as to rotate therein, longitudinally extending grooves formed in said bodies at a distance from the lower portions thereof, rails having their abutting ends fitting between said sh plates, the base of said rails extending within said grooves, said grooves being formed so as to be positioned above said rib, a spring normally urging said lish plates toward each other so as to bind upon the side portions of the webs of the rails, and the additional weight imparted by the base of the rails to said bodies as a train passes over the rails causing said bodies to slightly rotate within said channels so as to more positively bind said fish plates upon the webs of the rails.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tie plate comprising a base, overhanging flanges formed upon said base,

" longitudinally extending rounded channels formed in said base and flanges, a. central rib formed upon said base between said channels, a plurality of fish plates mounted upon said tie plate, bodies formed upon said fish plates, said bodies having rounded outer surfaces. so as to fit snugly within said channels so as to rotate therein, longitudinally extending grooves formed in said bodies at a distance from the lower portions thereof, rails having their abutting ends fitting between said sh plates, the base of said rails extending within said grooves, said grooves being formed so as to be positioned above said rib, blocks formed'upon said bodies, said blocks having lsockets formed therein, a coil spring having its ends mounted within the sockets of said blocks, whereby said blocks will be urged away from each other so as to normally retain said fish plates in a binding engagement with the webs of the rails, and the bases of the rails being adapted to slightly rotate said bodies within said channels when the weight of a train passing over the rails is imparted to the bodies, thus causing said fish plates to be more positively urged into a binding engagement with the side portions of the webs of the rails.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aiflx our signatures.

ROBERT A. COE. THOMAS J. HARBOUR.

Copies of this patent mty be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing Iche Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

